Why would anyone become Catholic?

https://www.indiegogo.com ^ | October 2, 2014 | Indiegogo

[NKP_Vet]

Why would intelligent, successful people give up their careers, alienate their friends, and cause havoc in their families...to become Catholic? Indeed, why would anyone become Catholic?

As an evangelist and author who recently threw my own life into some turmoil by deciding to enter the Catholic Church, I've faced this question a lot lately. That is one reason I decided to make this documentary; it's part of my attempt to try to explain to those closest to me why I would do such a crazy thing.

Convinced isn't just about me, though. The film is built around interviews with some of the most articulate and compelling Catholic converts in our culture today, including Scott Hahn, Francis Beckwith, Taylor Marshall, Holly Ordway, Abby Johnson, Jeff Cavins, Devin Rose, Matthew Leonard, Mark Regnerus, Jason Stellman, John Bergsma, Christian Smith, Kevin Vost, David Currie, Richard Cole, and Kenneth Howell. It also contains special appearances by experts in the field of conversion such as Patrick Madrid and Donald Asci.

Ultimately, this is a story about finding truth, beauty, and fulfillment in an unexpected place, and then sacrificing to grab on to it. I think it will entertain and inspire you, and perhaps even give you a fresh perspective on an old faith.

[terycarl]

Are you saying you can get into Heaven by the merit of your own actions

of course not, God sends me to purgatory (you too) to cleanse us of any wrongdoings that remain on our souls at death.

[metmom]

I suppose that it does no harm for Catholics to believe they’re in purgatory when they’re in hell.

I wouldn’t want to think that I’d be in hell forever, and it would be some consolation to think that some day the suffering is going to end.

They’ll need it to keep their sanity.

And they’re going to have an AWFULLY LOOONNNNNNGGGGG wait........

It’s too bad that they don’t realize that the blood of Jesus really is adequate to cover ALL their sin.

[boatbums]

It seemed to me to be doing just that after you had seemingly done the same thing. It is my understanding you, for purposes of this forum, can hate Catholicism and call it dishonest, etc., turning such hatred on Catholics is supposed to be forbidden because there are Catholic Freepers; using words like "dishonesty" is wrong as RM explained.

It "seems" to me that you are engaging in an attempt at mind-reading, which IS against the rules. Making a statement that speaks of no one Freeper in particular and stating an opinion that, "anyone who would combine passages of Scripture to make them say something they don’t shows a lack integrity and smacks of dishonesty", is NOT "making it personal". It is simply stating an opinion. May I presume that you would think the same if someone did that with Catechism passages?

Resorting to complaining about persecution while mind reading once again, trying to conclude whatever I might say here is because of my personal hatred towards Catholicism or Catholics, is also an infraction of the rules. It is indeed shameful for those professing to be Christians to accuse others as guilty of sins one repeatedly commits. Before God forgives, we must acknowledge what we have done wrong, else how will we avoid doing it again? He expects us to LEARN something.

[terycarl]

In 1440, German inventor Johannes Gutenberg invented a printing preLuckily for all of us, the Catholics wrote them down, collected them, copied them (by hand) for 1600 years, until the printing press was inventedss

give or take very few years....they didn't start printing anything for years after the press was invented, there was only one of them until, over time they proved efficient....then people who wanted to print something had to buy a press and learn how to use it. Then they started to print things, I'm fairly certain that the Bible was fairly high on their priority list although I don't know why it should be. The VAST majority of the people coulddn't read mostly because they had nothing to read. Over time, however, as people had access to an affordable book, and had learned to read it ( I don't know what they learned to read on) the bible over many years, became available to all.....1600 years probably isn't that far off....a meaningless number anyway!!....I'll give you a hundred years.....the year 1500 maybe

[editor-surveyor]

The most “protestant” denomination was founded by Yeshua himself.

Yeshua’s instruction to that denomination was to do as Moses said, and keep the ancient commandments.

John 5:

[43] I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
[44] How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
[45] Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
[46] For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
[47] But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Matthew 5:

[17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
[18] For verily I say unto you,Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
[19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
[20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven

[terycarl]

Today's church teaching is what today's Catholics believe; not what was taught in the past.

I believe what the church taught in 500AD...900AD...1300AD....1500AD...1800AD...1957AD...2013AD...is that past enough for you??

[terycarl]

Nice dodge and attempt at obfuscation. You said “the sabbath”. What day is the sabbath?

in whose opinion....is it the seventh day, the seventh day adventists say so, saturday say some, but most Catholic and protestant denominations celebrate on Sunday....the seventh day of what, the sixth day of what....we recognize the Gregorian calendar devised by Pope Gregory....when do you start your week???....do you really think that it matters to God as to which day we choose to set aside to honor Him..I don't

[terycarl]

Even IF it were so, and it's not,

where in Scripture does Jesus sanction the church killing people who reject Him?

yes it is....and I NEVER said anything about killing anyone...you must have me mixed up with another brilliant poster.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “I believe what the church taught in 500AD...900AD...1300AD....1500AD...1800AD...1957AD...2013AD...is that past enough for you??” <<

.
My question is Why do you not believe what Yeshua taught in 27AD?

It is in direct opposition to all of the things above that you claim to believe.

[terycarl]

If anything else in all creation were capable of cleansing us from sin, Christ died for nothing. His death was a needless torture and murder of an innocent man.

Christ died for our sins...we all believe that, but He certainly expected us to try our best to refrain from sins after that. Did we, absolutely not, and to think for one minute thast you can choose whatever lifestyle you please, commit any act that seems pleasurable, take anything that you desire from whoever it may be, and then die and be immediately forgiven and go straight to Heaven is the height of niavity. If you are guilty of serious sin and do not express sorrow and get yourself right with the Lord you will fry in Hell. If you are guilty of less serious violations, you will spend a little time in purgatory where you will take responsibility for your actions and be forgiven them.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “in whose opinion....is it the seventh day” <<

.
Do you not think that God knows?

That Yeshua and the apostles knew when they kept the sabbath all of their lives?

That the thousands that Constantine slaughtered for keeping God’s Sabbath knew?

Do you think NASA’s computers can compute it?

Is it really a great mystery, and is God wrong for demanding that we keep it?
.

[terycarl]

Which - even if the 1st century believers were RCs which they most manifestly were not -

sure they were

[boatbums]

the discussion was on purgatory. I haven't done so yet, but if I die I am willing (actually no choice) to spend some time in purgatory to insure that I arrive in Heaven in a state of perfect purity. You will face the same destiny and once there, you will appreciate the fact that you didn't deserve hell which lasts a long time!!

We ALL deserve hell.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:1-10)

[terycarl]

It’s too bad that they don’t realize that the blood of Jesus really is adequate to cover ALL their sin.

so, no matter what we do, how evil we are, how degenerate our lives, how many people we molest, how we steal, pillage ,etc etc...we die and go straight to Heaven....good luck with that theory.

[terycarl]

My question is Why do you not believe what Yeshua taught in 27AD? It is in direct opposition to all of the things above that you claim to believe.

I knew I should have started my post earlier...yes I believe what JESUS taught in 27 AD and 28AD...My church was there to take notes and write everything down...thanks to them you have any idea at all as to what Christ taught at any time in His life. and no, the Holy Spirit would probably not have come to you personally to tell you the story of Christ's life.

[editor-surveyor]

Your ‘church’ defies every word Yeshua ever spoke!
.

[boatbums]

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:4-5)

I was wondering how those who believe Paul (and, by extension, the church) was pronouncing an actual death sentence on this member who was guilty of a grave sin can explain how his spirit/soul is saved in the day of the Lord? How does killing a heretic ensure his salvation?

[boatbums]

rejecting Catholicism is rejecting the church that Christ founded and thus rejecting Christ....not rejecting a denominationn

The Eastern Orthodox reject Catholicism. Are they guilty of rejecting Christ? Perhaps you don't understand this but "the church" is made up of ALL the redeemed followers of Christ, those who have received the gift of God which is eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. If someone rejects Catholicism, they aren't rejecting "the church", just a particular church which asserts IT is the church that Christ founded.

Now, I don't deny that there ARE real Christians that are Catholic, just that the Roman Catholic church is NOT the church spoken of in Scripture. There are many tenets of the Christian faith that Catholicism still holds to, of course, and there are many godly, genuine and sincere Christians that worship in that manner. But, genuine, godly, faithful Christians also exist outside of the Roman Catholic church which demonstrates that there ARE Christians who are not Roman Catholic and they also are part of THE church Jesus established, just as there were in the early centuries of Christianity. Once this important distinction is realized, pride, animosity and hatred can be alleviated.

[boatbums]

give or take very few years....they didn't start printing anything for years after the press was invented, there was only one of them until, over time they proved efficient....then people who wanted to print something had to buy a press and learn how to use it. Then they started to print things, I'm fairly certain that the Bible was fairly high on their priority list although I don't know why it should be. The VAST majority of the people coulddn't read mostly because they had nothing to read. Over time, however, as people had access to an affordable book, and had learned to read it ( I don't know what they learned to read on) the bible over many years, became available to all.....1600 years probably isn't that far off....a meaningless number anyway!!....I'll give you a hundred years.....the year 1500 maybe

Sigh...is this the terycarl version of Bible history? Are you aware that great libraries existed in Egypt (Alexandria), Rome, Anatolia (Constantinople), Africa, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, China as well as others (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_libraries_in_the_ancient_world)? What do you think they contained, picture books? If nobody could read, why did they exist? Who wrote all the thousands of documents they contained? Are you aware that the Bible was the book most early Americans used to learn to read? That young Hebrew children used the Scriptures to also learn to read?

I'm not sure who you mean when you say the "vast majority of people" couldn't read. It certainly is provably false as we STILL have books that date to before Christianity existed. If you want to toss out numbers (i.e., Roman Catholicism is 2014 years old; the printing press didn't exist for 1600 years) to demonstrate the antiquity of Roman Catholicism or there wasn't a need for the Bible, it's your responsibility to be accurate - they are hardly meaningless numbers.